Erie lawyer Sala announces for judge

Friday

The Erie County Sheriff's Office had a big presence on Friday when Erie lawyer Pete Sala announced his candidacy for Erie County judge.

Sala, 50, has been the solicitor for the Sheriff's Office since 1997. Current Sheriff John Loomis and former Sheriff Bob Merski introduced Sala at his campaign event in a courtroom at the Erie County Courthouse.

Sala said his experience advising the sheriffs, as well as his 25-year career in private practice, makes him qualified to be elected to one of two open seats on the Erie County bench. In private practice, Sala handles civil and criminal cases as well as estates, real estate cases and domestic matters.

"I am prepared to serve in any area," Sala said of his plans if he becomes a judge. "In a general practice, you meet people you know and people you don't know. You have to listen to them and care about their problems and solve their problems to the best of your ability."

The Erie resident and Democrat said he will cross-file on the ballot for the municipal primary on May 21.

Sala received his law degree in 1994 from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and his bachelor's degree from Gannon University in 1991. He graduated from Strong Vincent High School.

Sala was a law clerk in 1994 for Erie County Judge Michael T. Joyce, in whose former courtroom Sala made his candidacy announcement. Sala entered private practice in 1995.

As the solicitor for the Sheriff's Office, Sala said he has dealt with a wide variety of matters, including constitutional issues. Speaking to a crowd of about 65 people, he said his work in the Sheriff's Office, along with his work in private practice, has allowed him to achieve the goal that prompted him to become a lawyer: "To help people with legal problems."

Sala is the third candidate to enter the race for the two vacant seats on the county's nine-member bench. One vacancy was created when Judge John Garhart retired on Dec. 31. Another seat has been open since the death of Judge Robert A. Sambroak Jr. in March 2017.

Longtime Erie lawyer David Ridge announced his candidacy for judge on Jan. 3 and former Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott announced his candidacy on Wednesday. Lawyer Ed Smith and Chief Deputy District Attorney Erin Connelly have said they intend to run for judge.

Ed Palattella can be reached at 870-1813 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNpalattella.

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